Research Article | Published: 30 August 2024

Ethnobotanical exploration of wild plants used by people of Outer Seraj Region of Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Nisha and Swaran Lata

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 31 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 101-117 | 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2024-XH3V1H | Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of the study was to document the indigenous knowledge and traditional uses of plants used by the local communities residing in the outer Seraj region of the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The methodology employed for the study involved extensive field surveys, ethnographic interviews and interactive sessions with local communities. This study witnessed use of 177 plant species being utilised by local communities for various purposes. The utilisation of species other than medicinal purpose includes fuelwood (39), edible (34), fodder (19), religious (17), handicrafts (13), veterinary (8), insecticidal (8), timber (5) and agricultural implements (3). An assessment of conservation status (IUCN, 2010 criterion based and CAMP, 2010) of these species showed 21 species in different threat categories, viz., Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (E) and Vulnerable (VU) in study region.

Keywords

Ethnographic interviews, Indigenous knowledge, Local communities, Outer Seraj, Parts used, Traditional uses

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Abstract Keywords References About this Article

Fig. 1

Map depicting the study area

Fig. 2

General overview of the study area

Fig. 3

Contribution of dominating families in species distribution

Fig. 4

Contribution of wild species according to their habit

Fig. 5

Usage of different plant parts

Fig. 6

Contribution of species and its parts utilisation by local community

Fig. 7

A. Dactylorhiza hatagirea, B. Achillea millefolium, C. Centella asiatica, D. Oxalis corniculata, E. Rhododendron lepidotum, F. Taxus wallichiana, G. Polygonatum verticillatum, H. Abrus precatorius, I. Trifolium repens, J. Bergenia ciliata, K. Bergenia stracheyi, L. Origanum vulgare

References

1. Aswal, B.S. and Mehrotra, B.N., 1987. Ethnobotanical Studies on the Flora of Lahaul Valley (North-West Himalaya). In M.R. Sharma and B.K. Gupta, (eds), Recent Advances in Plant Sciences. Bishen Singh and Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, pp.116-130.

2. Boktapa, N.R. and Sharma, A.K., 2010. Wild medicinal plants used by local communities of Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India. Ethnobotanical leaflets, (3), p.4.

Google Scholar

3. Butola, J.S. and Badola, H.K., 2008. Threatened Himalayan medicinal plants and their conservation in Himachal Pradesh. J Trop Med Plants, 9(1), pp.125-142.

Google Scholar

4. CAMP, 2010. Threatened Medicinal Plants of Himachal Pradesh, Report of the ‘CAMP’ Workshop (Conservation Assessment & Management Prioritisation) held at Shimla on 1-4 December 2010 Sponsored by National Medicinal Plants Board, Government of India. Organised by: Himachal Pradesh Forest Department.

5. Chauhan, N.S., 2003. Important medicinal and aromatic plants of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Forester. 129(8), pp.979-998.

Google Scholar

6. Collett, H., 1902. Flora simlensis. Calcutta: Thacker Spink. & Co, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, Reprinted 1971.

Google Scholar

7. Dhaliwal, D.S. and Sharma, M., 1999. Flora of Kullu district. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun p.744.

Google Scholar

8. IUCN, 2010. IUCN red list of threatened species. Version 2010.4. International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

9. Jain, S.K., 1926. Dictionary of Indian folk medicine and ethnobotany : a reference manual of man-plant relationships, ethnic groups & ethnobotanists in India. Deep publications. p.311

Google Scholar

10. Lal, B. and Singh, K.P., 2008. Indigenous herbal remedies used to cure skin disorders by the natives of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 7(2), pp. 237-241

Google Scholar

11. Pal, D.K., Kumar, A., Dutt, B. and Sharma, S., 2015. Ethnobotanical knowledge and usage of wild plants in Theog forest division, Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya. The Journal of Ethnobiology and Traditional Medicine. 124, pp.922-935.

Google Scholar

12. Pant, S. and Samant, S.S., 2008. Population ecology of the endangered Himalayan Yew in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary of North Western Himalaya for conservation management. Journal of Mountain Science. 5, pp.257-264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-008-0078-z

Google Scholar

13. Prakash, P., Radha, Kumar, M., Kumari, N., Prakash, S., Rathour, S., Thakur, M., Jamwal, R., Janjua, S., Ali, M., Pundir, A., Puri, S., Dhumal, S., Singh, S., Senapathy, M., Bangar, S.P., Maurya, V.K., Changan, S., Gora, J.S., Samota, M.K., Damale, R.D., Sasi, M., Natta, S., Chandran, D., Rajalingam, S.K., Rais, N. and Mekhemar, M., 2021. Therapeutic Uses of Wild Plants by Rural Inhabitants of Maraog Region in District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Horticulturae. 2021. 7, p.343. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100343

Google Scholar

14. Qureshi, R.A. and Ghufran, M.A., 2005. Medicinal value of some important roses and allied species of Northeren Area of Pakistan. Pakistan Rose Annual, pp.24-29.

Google Scholar

15. Radha, Puri, S. and Kumar, S., 2019. An ethnobotanical study of wild medicinal plants used by migratory shepherds – A tribal community of Western Himalayas. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and clinical Research. 12(4). https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2019.v12i4.31130

Google Scholar

16. Rana, M.S. and Samant, S.S., 2011a. Diversity, indigenous uses and conservation status of medicinal plants in Manali wildlife sanctuary, North western Himalaya. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 10, pp.439-459

Google Scholar

17. Rana, M.S. and Samant, S.S., 2011b. Population biology of Lilium polyphyllum D.Don ex Royle - A critically endangered medicinal plant in a protected area of Northwestern Himalaya. Journal for nature conservation. 19(3), pp.137-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2010.08.001

Google Scholar

18. Rawat, R.S., Vaneet, J. and Kapoor, K.S., 2009. Medicinal and aromatic plant diversity of Himalayan cold desert with reference to Spiti valley of North-West Himalayas. Indian Forester, 135(7), pp.891-904.

Google Scholar

19. Samant, S.S., Pant, S., Singh, M., Lal, M., Singh, A., Sharma, A. and Bhandari, S., 2007. Medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh, north western Himalaya, India. The International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management. 3(4), pp.234-251. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451590709618177

Google Scholar

20. Sharma, M. and Sood, S.K., 2013. Ethnobotanical Survey for wild plants of District Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India). International Journal of Environmental Biology. Universal research publications.

Google Scholar

21. Singh, S.K. and Rawat, G.S., 1999. Floral diversity and vegetation structure in great Himalayan national park, western Himalaya. Wildlife Institute of India. 2(5), pp.1-28.

Google Scholar

22. Singh, S.K. and Rawat, G.S., 2000. Flora of great Himalayan national park: Himachal Pradesh. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun

Google Scholar

23. Thakur, D.N., 2007. Studies on diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants of Pangi Valley in Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh. MSc. Thesis, College of Forestry Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan.

Google Scholar

24. Thakur, K.S., Kumar, M., Bawa, R., Bussmann, R.W., 2014. Ethonobotanical study of herbaceous flora along an altitudinal gradient in Bharmour Forest Division, District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/946870

Google Scholar

25. Thakur, S.D., 2005. Ethonobotanical studies of Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh. Doctoral dissertation, College of Forestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan.

Google Scholar

26. Uniyal, S.K., Kumar, A., Lal, B. and Singh, R.D., 2006. Quantitative assessment and traditional uses of high value medicinal plants in Chhota Bhangal area of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. Current Science. pp.1238-1242.

Google Scholar

27. Verma, S. and Chauhan, N.S., 2007. Indigenous medicinal plant knowledge of Kunihar forest division, district, Solan. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(3), pp.494-497

Google Scholar

28. Yusuf, M., Wahab, M.A., Yousuf, M.D., Chowdhury, J.U. and Begum, J., 2007. Some tribal medicinal plants of Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy, 14(2), p.117. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v14i2.531

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Nisha and Lata, S., 2024. Ethnobotanical exploration of wild plants used by people of Outer Seraj Region of Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India . Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 31(2), pp.101-117. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2024-XH3V1H

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 24 July 2024

Manuscript Revised on 26 August 2024

Manuscript Accepted on 28 August 2024

Manuscript Published on 30 August 2024

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: